The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-05-07
WRITTEN FOR "THE UNION"
THE SPRINGFIELD" ESTATE.
The Thriving Village of Sykesville
Beauties of "Springf1eld"-Its Rich
Acres and its High Bred Stock
One of the Model Farms
of MARYLAND

of Maryland.
In Carroll county, near the junction of Carroll,
Howard and Baltimore counties, the scenery in
grandeur ofhi and valley shows less of the rugged
and stern, and with wheat fields, pastures and
graceful homes peeping through foliage indicates
that one of the youngest counties in the State is
one of the leaders in progression. The most pros
porous community for many miles is shown at
SYkesville, ON the Frederick and Eicott City
branch of the B. & o. Railroad, and about an
hours pleasant ride from the city of Baltimore
The enthusiastically beautiful depot is the most at
tractive and convenient between Baltimore and
Cumberland. The location is admirable as grant
ing good impression of the village at first sight.
Across the double tracks flows windingly tho Pa
tapsco river, bordering the emerald green wheat
fields, rising to buildings as white as snow, backed
by tall and comely forests North of and near by
the station the village congregates, then winds
along between the hills and rising in terraces
pretty cottages with piazzas, fresh paint and i'm
proving gardens The business houses are extern
sive and numerous and the business men in happy
unanimity.
Along the village thoroughfare improvements
are noticeable on every hand. New buildings,
new fences and general go-aheaditiveness noticed
in few places in the world but the West cause the
visitors enquiring mind as to who and what is the
cause OF this exceptional prosperity. Sykesville
is the railroad point and the postofice of the
SPRINGFIELD ESTATE,
one of the most famous farms in the State of
Maryland. Pursuing from the village, with its
diverging roads which meet and meet again, past
terraces Of new and comey homes, built according
to the natural rolling of the lands, billy ascent
is reached and therefrom the Springfield estate is
noticeable. The grand home on another activity
causes transpostion ofthought to the world. famed
summer resorts of the White Mountains. Imagine
pure white structure, with verandas and $50 feet
frontage with lawns in circular and diverse mood
covering % acres; with evergreen hedges and
stately oaks, Gins and hickories, and growing
trees formerly considered indigenous to the soil.
A, paying court to king, cottages and cottages
are in multitude beneath and the spacious barns,
stables and outhouses, occupying respective con-
venience for north, south, east and western fields
appear as garrisons. All the buildings and fences
white, with the green of field and foliage and the
glstening of streams and rivulets through the de-
scending fields till lost in the woods The lowing
of the thoroughbred Devon herd the bleating Of
the sheep from high hills and the songs of the
robin and hooking bird joined in chorus by the
barnyard champion are from frowning crags and
dark gorges beyond an unexpected transformation.
The Springfield estate, from which many farms
have been dispersed, still covers over 800 acres
and the number of buildings thereon it would be
difficult to compute. Next to the mansion in at
Effectiveness is the beautiful residence of the
seer and therefrom are numerous cottages, not too
closely built and all occupied. The stables are
very large, with great, roony stalls, granting
every comfort to the noble equine. One stable,
with twenty four ordinary and five box stalls,
gives accommodation to number of first-class
draft stock 1t is evident the proprietorship has
chosen the best blood and build, as the horses are
not as heavy as the noted Clydesdales of Scotland
or the Percherons of France, but possess great
strength without too great weight joined with ac-
tivity. 1t was the boast of ]. and P. Cameron, of
Edinburg, Scotland, that there was not draft
horse in their stables weighing less than ton,
and Pickford 6 Co., of Liverpool, England, who
transferred freight from steamships to railroads,
had 200 Clydesdales with same quantum of flesh
and bone. Such horses will do for the heavy
freightage of Clyde shipbuiding yards or the iron
business of Pittsburg and that city has the heav-
lest horses in America, but for Mary land lighter,
compact animal will do better and quicker work.
Then again the good all around horse can be bred
therefrom.
In the stables are A head of horses, colts and
fies with several splendid stations. "Spring-
field" is a beautiful light gray, with silver white
name and tail. He is 8 years old, stands 16 hands
high and weighs 1850 pounds. His small head,
with intelligent eye, arched neck and perfect form
make him the beau ideal horse. "Young Norman"
is a four year-old dark brown, weighing LOO
pounds and many horsemen claim him to be the
best horse in Carroll county. "Horace" is a beau
tiful sorrel, with white face and aaxen name and
tail. Those who are prejudiced against the color
have only to see "Horace" and change their views.
He stands 16 hands high, is years old and tips
the beam at 1,450 pounds. "DeXter" is four
year-od thoroughbred, by the Walter Dorsey
horse from Patterson mare. He is only l43
hands high, but prettier booded horse as to form
is not in the State. His rich bay coat and dark
points are heightened by hind white sock and
prettily formed star and he looks fit to run for a
mans life. He has no end of courage and his
name is well applied. One of the handsOmest
braad mares in the region is half sister to
"Sprihs6eld She is n nottle gray. Z Years old
anu Is hands high, bears the pet name of "Birdie,
and with her colt, week old, by her side, is a
pretty sight. "Springield" has proven himself a
noble sire, but three-year- old iron gray FLY of
his will compare if not surpass any of his many
colts which have given him prestige.
The Springfield estate, I may as well mention
now, is the property of Frank Brown, Esq, Balti-
more city's well-known and highly popular post
master. The numerous colts at the farm are very
promising and reflect credit upon the head groom,
George Kohlenburg, q thorough horseman, who is
in love with his pets. In the stables my attention
was called to beautiful dark brown IL years old,
as sleek as cat. "Dandy" turned his head and
winked cutely. He is the first riding horse Mrs.
Brown had at Springfield.
In the city Mr.. Brown keeps number of splen-
did driving horses, and many others besides those
mentioned are worthy of detailed remark if space
would permit. Near the stables are well-kept
pens for about fifty thoroughbred Berkshire pork
ers, which in form and mark would clean out a
county fair, and Springfield has long been famous
for its porcine superiority.
An immense building, measuring SOxS2 feet, is
devoted to the storage of machinery and imple-
ments generally, with corn house, the capacity
of which is 1000 barrels, running through the
centre. There are five Mccormick binders in a
line and two separators which are utilized durin
the threshing season, and traction engine, which
can haul eight to ten tons is worthy of note, while
the heavy wagons light vehicles and all the auxil-
iaries of modern inventive genius are in place and
in order.
The thoroughbred Devon herd, numbering about
forty head, not up to my expectations but show
blood, of course.
Springfield has in all probability as grand
meadows and pastures as the State can boast OF
and condensed account of the crops may interest
YOUR readers. The average annual yield is TO-
900 bushels of wheat 900 bushels of corn, $500
bushels of OATS and about 500 tons of hay and 500
bushels of potatoes, while vegetable gardening
generally receives skilled attention. From the
estate 125 acres recently sold, embracing one
of the best orchards, yet there are orchards left
Extensive graperies and Conservatives abound.
In the semi-village of the estate are blacksmiths
wheelwrights and carpenters directly connected
grist MILL with four run of burrs, and in fact the
Springfield estate is as complete as a little nation
About two years ago twenty beautiful cottages,
with ample grounds, were added to the estate and
Mr.. Brown keeps the ball rolling, making. Sykes
Vile one of the most prosperous and growing Sec
tions in this part of the State.
From twenty to thirty men are kept busy on the
farm, while retinue of other employees is found
necessary. There is no slavery at Springfield, but
all work cheerily and tremendously, and doubtless
the happy manner of the competent overseer, as
well as the respect for their employer, causes the
absence of cloudy frowns and causes willing dill
gence. For nearly eighteen years Mr.. J. 2. Phil
iinger has supervised operations and he is duly
appreciated by all who know him. He possesses
administrative ability in an eminent degree, hav-
ing force of character without needessly display
ing it. Although veteran soldier, he is the re-
verse of being a martinez. He fought with the
gallant Sth Maryland, serving under Gen. DENIM
son, a former postmaster of Baltimore, and is now
lieutenant under the present able representative
Of the Government in Baltimore's postal AFFAIRS
Mr. Phillinger was overseer for the late S. I. G..
Brown, father of the present owner of Springfield,
and one Of natures noblemen, as those who knew
him can testify.
The overseer's home is like suburban home
and the refined influence of the female hand is at
oooo hIa from the stoons TO every nook and